If I am reading this right, Swiminfo.com is reporting that Craig Stevens is indeed going to back out of the 400 and leave it up to Australia Swimming to "pick another member of the Olympic Team" to swim that race in Athens. If I am ANY other country, swimmer, the 3rd place finisher at the Trials or an organization interested in ethics, then I am raising a stink on this one!!!! Thorpe DQ'd and the Aussies are going to skirt the rule and get him in anyway. They would be relegated to the status of Ben Johnson, Rosie Ruiz, and the 60+% of MLB who are on steriods! This is FREAKIN' UNBELIEVABLE. I have no respect for any of the aforementioned and if this happens, none for Ian Thorpe and the Australian swim federation (or whatever official name they hide behind) are in that seeming, stinking pile.
I just saw this story and thought it was interesting. It's a little old (March 29th):
www.abc.net.au/.../s1076267.htm
Here's an excerpt worthy of note:
Australian swimming legend Kieren Perkins has also jumped to Stevens's defence, saying he is disgusted by suggestions the swimmer should step aside.
"It's disgusting what's happening - I can't believe people are calling for him to possibly give up his position or consider letting Ian swim," Perkins said.
"I cannot for the life of me understand why anybody would be calling for him to be giving up his Olympic dream just because another individual stuffed up."
Perkins was involved in a similar situation in the lead-up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when a form slump saw him finish third in the 400m in the selection trials.
Like Thorpe, Perkins was the world record holder in the event at the time.
Enormous pressure was placed on second-placed Malcolm Allen to stand aside but at Perkins's urging he refused to budge.
Today Perkins said Stevens deserved his place on the team in Athens.
"While it's an absolute tragedy for Ian that he has missed out, the reality of life is he made a mistake and he's got to wear the consequences," he said.
"There's absolutely no way on this earth that Craig Stevens should have to pay for Ian Thorpe's mistakes."
I just saw this story and thought it was interesting. It's a little old (March 29th):
www.abc.net.au/.../s1076267.htm
Here's an excerpt worthy of note:
Australian swimming legend Kieren Perkins has also jumped to Stevens's defence, saying he is disgusted by suggestions the swimmer should step aside.
"It's disgusting what's happening - I can't believe people are calling for him to possibly give up his position or consider letting Ian swim," Perkins said.
"I cannot for the life of me understand why anybody would be calling for him to be giving up his Olympic dream just because another individual stuffed up."
Perkins was involved in a similar situation in the lead-up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when a form slump saw him finish third in the 400m in the selection trials.
Like Thorpe, Perkins was the world record holder in the event at the time.
Enormous pressure was placed on second-placed Malcolm Allen to stand aside but at Perkins's urging he refused to budge.
Today Perkins said Stevens deserved his place on the team in Athens.
"While it's an absolute tragedy for Ian that he has missed out, the reality of life is he made a mistake and he's got to wear the consequences," he said.
"There's absolutely no way on this earth that Craig Stevens should have to pay for Ian Thorpe's mistakes."
